“Endoscopic vessel harvesting has revolutionized the post-operative care of cardiac bypass surgery patients,” Dr. Campos said. “By using the less invasive endoscopic procedure, patients have better outcomes with fewer complications, less pain, and minimal scarring.”

Endoscopic radial artery harvest requires only a 1-inch cut in the arm. The same procedure is also available for leg harvesting. In the past, cardiac bypass surgery left a long scar on the arm, leg or chest, where doctors took out the healthy blood vessel that was needed for the bypass.

“Patients no longer have to walk around with scars that run the entire length of their leg or from their wrist to their elbow after cardiac surgery,” said Thomas Carr, MD, Director of Cardiac Surgery for Southcoast Hospitals Group. “This less invasive method also lowers the risk for infection.”

In cardiac bypass surgery, a healthy vein or artery is taken, or “harvested,” from another part of the body and used to graft “bypasses” around blockages in the arteries that supply blood to the heart.

Southcoast cardiac surgeon Christian Campos, MD, said about 30 percent of cardiac bypass patients are candidates for a radial artery bypass. It’s best used on younger patients, ages 50 to 70, and patients who have critical blockages or need multivessel bypass surgery. Ten endoscopic radial artery procedures have been performed at Charlton Memorial Hospital since August.

“Harvesting the artery in the arm is not for everyone,” Dr. Campos said. “Ask your doctor if this procedure is right for you. But, by using the less invasive endoscopic procedure, patients have better outcomes with fewer complications, less pain and minimal scarring.”